Stellar assessment again places Evesham Township Police Department among the top 1% of U.S. law enforcement agencies for professionalism and organization excellence.Chief Christopher Chew announced today that the Evesham Township Police Department has earned reaccreditation by the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), considered to be the gold standard in public safety. The department was awarded their second reaccreditation after a formal hearing on November 18, 2017 in Jacksonville, FL.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment by our entire police department”, said Chief Chew. “Being reaccredited by CALEA reaffirms the professionalism and standard of excellence throughout our entire organization”.CALEA accreditation is a voluntary process that requires accredited agencies to submit annual reports showing compliance with the program’s standards. Agencies are required to a mandatory review every three years, a process which includes an in-depth on-site assessment, community input and a formal hearing before a panel of commissioners.

In August, an assessment team from CALEA spent multiple days at ETPD and in the Evesham community conducting interviews with department staff, elected officials and community members. The CALEA assessment team leader noted the following: “All of the comments made by the persons in contact with the assessment team concerning the agency were positive, stressing cooperation, professionalism and caring. Citizens expressed their sense of safety and of the commitment agency personnel have for them. These sentiments express the spirit of CALEA- providing and promoting positive interactions between the agency and the citizens they are sworn to serve”, said Bradley E. Biller, the CALEA assessment team leader. “Chief Christopher Chew and members of the agency remain strongly committed to the CALEA accreditation process.”

The reaccreditation process required compliance with nearly 500 standards measured in exacting detail by a commission of independent assessors. Only one percent of all agencies in the United States achieve CALEA accreditation, and Evesham PD is only one of nine municipal police departments to receive this prestigious award in the state of New Jersey. About CALEAThe Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations:• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)• National Sheriffs Association (NSA); and the • Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).

The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Program is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.

Officer of The Month - January

Lt. Brian Rosaneberg has been a member of the Evesham Police Department for 18 years. Lt. Rosenberg is being commended for his quick actions during a dangerous situation and commitment to making the township a safer place.